Mertie
Rusk is the child on the left, Bertha's half sister. Bertha is on the
right. The quiet observant way of the Native American was caught in this
picture by the photographer. Barely visible there is almost a smile on
Bertha's face. No comment is made in the presence of strangers. Only when
they were alone with each other would there be discussion of all the
events as to their differences, meaning or reason for being. Sometimes,
the privately shared conversations would be held amid uproarious laughter
as they would strive to understand the behavior of the Anglo people around
them.

Most often there were
references made as to the personalities of the Indians being stoic. No one
would have believed this if they could have been present during private
discussions among themselves. The fact the Natives never cracked a smile
was an honest respect for their guests and an exercise of self control. If
they would have given way to their true feelings in the presence of their
guests it would have been considered rude. They would never openly do
this. One can see Bertha, the older girl here, is better at it than the
little girl, Mertie, who is having to work at following her sister's
example.

Mertie has on an Anglo
dress but her feet show the tradtional mocassin. Bertha looks to wear
regular shoes.

Soft leather, warm woolen blankets, soft
cotton fabrics such as the dress on Mertie, here, one can see are being
replaced by more crisp sharp stiff fabrics introduced by another race.

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